World’s Most Romantic Islands

No. 14 Huahine, French Polynesia

Vanilla plantations, a pearl farm, a lagoon for snorkeling and kayaking, and a sweet village that sells poisson cru are among the delights waiting for those who visit Huahine. Be sure to get to blissful Hana Iti beach (once the site of a luxury hotel that got whipped away during a monsoon) and to spend some time exploring the jungle. There is a large concentration of marae, or centuries-old sacred sites, in the village of Maeva—and in this unspoiled place, it’s easy to imagine a time when Polynesian chiefs ruled. —Christine Ciarmello